RV Corystes CORY 2/07
Cruise summary report
| Cruise Info. | |
| Ship name (ship code) | RV Corystes (74RY) |
| Cruise identifier | CORY 2/07 |
| Cruise period | 2007-09-16 — 2007-10-05 |
| Status | Completed |
| Port of departure | Belfast, United Kingdom |
| Port of return | Swansea, United Kingdom |
| Purpose | Research |
| Objectives | AIMS:
1. To carry out a 4m beam-trawl survey of groundfish to i) obtain fisheries independent data on the distribution and abundance of commercial flatfish species, and ii) derive age compositions of sole and plaice for use in the assessment of stock size. 2. To collect biological data including maturity and weight at age of sole, plaice, lemon sole and other commercially important finfish species as part of CEFAS' requirements under the EU data regulations. 3. To determine the distribution and relative abundance of juvenile and adult sole and plaice. 4. To quantify epibenthos using 4m beam trawl by-catch. 5. To collect surface seawater samples for processing on return to Lowestoft for the analysis of caesium and tritium (AE001) (C Smedley EFS). 6. To collect fish samples in support f other CEFAS projects and training courses. NARRATIVE: (All times GMT) CEFAS scientists arrived in Belfast at 2130h 15 September in order to join CORYSTES. On 15/16 September, all survey gear and associated equipment was loaded, assembled and tested prior to sailing. CORYSTES sailed from Belfast at 1237h on 16 September, but was forced to return to port due to a faulty autopilot system. CORYSTES re-berthed at 1342hrs. Once the faulty autopilot system had been fixed, CORYSTES sailed again at 1620hrs, the same day. Fishing commenced in the St Georges Channel (SGC) at prime stn 229 at 0654h. However this tow was considered as invalid. Major problems with the winch hydraulics meant that hauling took many hours. The vessel's engineering staff attempted to resolve this problem without success, so as nothing could be done onboard to increase the power to the winches the decision to return to Belfast was taken. |
| Chief scientist | Ian David Holmes (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Lowestoft Laboratory) |
| Cruise report |  (2.39 MB) |
| Ocean/sea areas | |
| General | Irish Sea and St. George's Channel Bristol Channel |
| Specific | Irish Sea, Bristol Channel |
| Track charts | (0.35 MB) |
| Measurements | |
| Physical oceanography | |
| Surface measurements underway (T,S) | Description: Temperature and salinity taken at all stations from surface continuous seawater flow |
| Water bottle stations | Description: Temperature and salinity taken at all stations from surface continuous seawater flow |
| Water bottle stations | Description: Temperature and salinity taken at selected stations from Niskin sea-bed water sampler |
| CTD stations | Description: Temperature and salinity profile recorded at each Niskin station using micro CTD unit |
| CTD stations | Description: Micro CTD unit attached to beam trawl. |
| CTD stations | Description: Temperature and salinity profile recorded at all bean trawl stations with mini CTD unit. |
| CTD stations | Description: Temperature and salinity taken at selected stations from Niskin sea-bed water sampler |
| Subsurface temperature and salinity measurements | Description: Temperature and salinity taken at selected stations from Niskin sea-bed water sampler |
| Contamination | |
| Trace metals | Description: Surface seawater samples for tritium analysis. |
| Biology and fisheries | |
| Phytobenthos | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
| Zoobenthos | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
| Pelagic fish | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
| Demersal fish | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
| Molluscs | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
| Crustaceans | Description: 4m beam trawl. |
